Sources have confirmed to Channel 9 that former U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown was released from prison Wednesday.
Earlier in April, Brown’s attorney filed an “emergency motion for compassionate release,” stating Brown’s health was declining considerably since being enarcerated inside Coleman Federal Prison in Sumter County. It also expressed concern about the risk of COVID-19.
The motion was later withdrawn, but today, several sources told Eyewitness News the Bureau of Prisons decided to released her.
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Joe Rojas, who represents prison workers, told Eyewitness News she was released because of political pressure.
Well-connected Republican businessman John Crossman who is involved in prison ministry and advocates for non-violent offenders said, even though Brown is a Democrat, he initially pushed for her release.
Crossman said he spoke with Brown on Wednesday.
“She’s doing great. She seemed grateful and she’s being rest and being with her family at home,” he said.
Even though the Bureau of Prisons hasn’t confirmed the reason for Brown’s release, her spiritual advisor Bishop Kelvin Cobaris said his understanding is that she was released because of concerns about the coronavirus and her health.
He said that Brown received a standing ovation from prisoners when released, and plans to stay with family while she gets acclimated to her freedom again.
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As of Wednesday, Brown had served more than two years of her five-year sentence after being convicted on fraud and other charges related to a purported charity for poor students that she used as a personal slush fund.
Brown served as a representative from northeastern Florida for nearly 25 years.
The sources that confirmed her release include the union representative for Coleman Federal Prison employees and her former aide.
In May 2017, a federal jury convicted Brown of 18 of the 22 charges against her, which included fraud, lying on her tax returns and on her congressional financial disclosures. She surrendered for her five-year prison sentence on January 29, 2018.
In January, the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld Brown’s federal fraud convictions.
She served her sentence at Federal Corrections Institution Coleman’s minimum-security satellite camp in Sumterville.
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